Metro’s five living mayors to gather for government’s golden anniversary Thursday

It’s been nearly 50 years since Nashville and Davidson County voters decided they’d be better off with one government than two and created that thing we call Metro.

Voters approved the consolidation of city and county governments on June 28, 1962, after rejecting the idea four years earlier. To mark the 50th anniversary of that landmark event – and to kick off nine months or so of observances marking Metro’s beginnings – the five living mayors of the era will meet for a press conference at the courthouse on Thursday.

The five are Mayor Karl Dean, who has held office since 2007; Bill Purcell, 1999-2007; Phil Bredesen, 1991-99; Bill Boner, 1987-91, and Richard Fulton, 1975-87. The first Metro mayor, Beverly Briley, served from 1963 to 1975 and died in 1980.